Dynamic
susceptibility contrast MRI is a well-known method for determination of
perfusion parameters in the brain. The major challenge of the method is to
measure the contrast inflow into the brain, commonly, the arterial input
function (AIF). The measurement of the AIF is subject to a number of problems
such as signal void in blood, nonlinear dependence on contrast agent
concentration and partial volume effects. In this study, those problems are
solved with an extension of a conventional perfusion pulse sequence. Results
obtained in an animal model reproduce known values of the cardiac output and
the cerebral blood volume.